Scott’s Nutty Pumpkin Roll

Look for the recipe twist for Scott’s Nutty Pumpkin Roll, at OrlandoSentinel.com/thedish.

Scott McKenzie will always be my favorite nut. We lost our friend and MIX 105.1 morning leader way too soon but he lives on in the example that he lived: courageous, courteous and pretty darn crafty at making everyone around him be better people. I am blessed to have two media families, my Sentinel cohorts, and the Jay, Dana, Adam, Brad, Angela and many others at Mix 105.1. Food and music: They go together like icing and cake.

I have so many Scott stories. One that always makes me smile is how excited he would get when a MIX 105.1 staff member brought in Pumpkin Swirl Bread just after Halloween. The recipe is a Sentinel Test Kitchen classic from longtime recipe tester Betty Boza. The quick bread recipe first published in 1987. It wasn’t fall until the Pumpkin Swirl Bread was sliced and shared. In Scott’s memory, I created a spin off. It’s rolled to celebrate his love of rock. It’s nutty because, well, that goes without saying. And it’s sweet because he was one of the nicest people I have ever known. Put on some Beatles music and let’s bake!

Scott’s Nutty Pumpkin Roll

Makes 12 servings

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or to taste)

1/2 teaspoon salt (not coarse salt)

1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans

Powdered sugar

Filling:

8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or dark rum

Garnish:

Whole pecans or additional chopped pecans

1. Line a greased 15-by-10-inch rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and grease the paper. Heat oven to 375F.

Well, it all started back in 1974, that's when I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. I moved with my family when I was 2 to Orlando, and have lived here ever since. I attended school here in Orlando, Lake Brantley High School, Seminole Community...